Runaway horses rescued from bog

Gabor Degre | BDN

Gabor Degre | BDN

COLD-WATER RESCUE Barn staff and rescuers put blankets and heat packs on a 2 1/2-year-old horse names Remmington after he was rescued Friday from an iced-over farm pond at Nag-A-Bon Acres farm in sTetson. Owner Mark Merrill said he and another person spotted the horse as they went to feed their animals. When they could not pull the horse from the water, they called 911 and units from Stetson, Levant and Carmel came to the scene. The hole in the ice was enlgarged behind the horse and one of the rescuers got into the icy water wearing a cold-weather resccue suit to make sure its hind legs were positioned property. After everything was set they pulled Remmington from the pond with the aid of a tractor. Merrill said the horse was not injured. (BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY GABOR DEGRE)
CAPTION
Barn staff and rescuers put blankets and heat packs on 2 1/2-year-old Remmington after he was rescued from an iced over farm pond at Nag-A-Bon Acres farm in Stetson Friday. Owner Mark Merrill said that they saw the horse as they went to feed the animals and tried to pull it put but were unsuccessful. They called the 911 and the units from Stetson, Levant and Carmel responded tothe call. The hole in the ice was enlarged behind the horse and one of the rescuers got into the icy water wearing a cold weather rescue suit to make sure the horse's hind legs were positioned properly for the rescue. After everithing was set they pulled Remmington from the pond with the aid of a tractor.

Earl Strandell | courtesy of Earl Strandell

Earl Strandell | courtesy of Earl Strandell

Prince, a Belgian draft horse owned by Greenbush resident Earl Strandell, broke through the ice and needed to be rescued by firefighters and Selectman Charlie Adams. Photo courtesy of Earl Strandell

Earl Strandell | courtesy of Earl Strandell

Earl Strandell | courtesy of Earl Strandell

Prince, a Belgian draft horse owned by Greenbush resident Earl Strandell, broke through the ice and needed to be rescued by firefighters and Selectman Charlie Adams. Photo courtesy of Earl Strandell

GREENBUSH, Maine — Prince and Charlie, big Belgian draft horses who had just arrived at their new home with owner Earl Strandell on Saturday afternoon, had quite the adventure during their first full day there.

The equine duo knocked down their fence early Sunday and took off into nearby woods with Strandell on their heels.

He caught up with them about 45 minutes after they escaped when Prince fell though the ice on a bog about a mile from Strandell’s homestead. Ice-cold water reached up to the horse’s midsection and there was no way Strandell was going to get him out without assistance, he said Sunday afternoon.

He called Greenbush Fire Department at around 10:30 a.m. and eight firefighters and Selectman Charlie Adams trekked the mile or so through the snow to reach the trapped animal.

“We’ve been horse fishing,” Greenbush Chief Donald Burr said Sunday afternoon after freeing the horse. “There was two horses. One went through the ice and the other one was standing beside it waiting to go through the ice.”

The massive Belgian draft horse, slightly larger than a Clydesdale, needed help from Adams and firefighter Scott Jipson to get free of the icy water.

“Luckily, we have one town selectman and one firefighter who are horse wranglers,” Burr said. “They were able to get a rope on it and side by side helped the horse step out of the hole.”

Prince, who was visibly weak from his time in the water, according to Strandell, was freed around 1 p.m. and was walked back to their new home.

“They were covered in mud,” Strandell said. “I brushed them down; there is nothing broken and nothing ripped.”

The horse owner said he’s happy to have his draft horses back safe and sound, and that no one got hurt rescuing them.

“It could have been way worse,” Strandell said.

The two horses had been delivered to Strandell around 4 p.m. Saturday and joined a mule named Bird.

“Only those two escaped,” Strandell said. “They left their other friend behind. Bird stayed in the yard and never moved. She knew better, I guess.”

After the draft horses were cleaned off and warmed with blankets, Strandell headed out to fix his fence.